Genetics
Can Genetics Tell Us Someone's Serotonin, Dopamine or Norepinephrine Level?
However, genes can provide information about biological systems that influence:
Written by Sanjida Ahmed, PhD, Cellular and Molecular BiologyChief Operating Officer and Lead Scientist, Personalized Prescribing. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.
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Not directly.
A genetic test cannot simply measure:
“How much serotonin is in your brain.”
However, genes can provide information about biological systems that influence:
- How neurotransmitters are made
- How they are transported
- How they are broken down
- How their receptors function Looking at several genes together may therefore provide clues about a person’s underlying biological tendencies within serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine pathways.
This information can potentially be combined with:
The patient’s symptoms
to better understand which medication mechanisms may be worth considering.
It should be viewed as:
Decision-support information
rather than a direct measurement of brain chemistry.
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